{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,25]],"date-time":"2026-06-25T08:49:49Z","timestamp":1782377389765,"version":"3.54.5"},"reference-count":43,"publisher":"PeerJ","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,25]],"date-time":"2026-06-25T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1782345600000},"content-version":"unspecified","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":[],"abstract":"<jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Background<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Khat use is an increasing public health concern in Somaliland, linked to various mental, physical, social, and psychological problems.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Objective<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>This study examined the effect of khat consumption on work performance among small business employees in the City-Center Market, Hargeisa, Somaliland.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Methodology<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>A quantitative cross-sectional design was employed, with purposive sampling of 150 male respondents. Data were collected through a structured Likert-scale questionnaire measuring khat consumption patterns and work performance. Reliability was confirmed using Cronbach\u2019s alpha, and multiple linear regression analysis was applied to assess the predictive effect of khat consumption on work performance. Demographic and occupational variables (education level, marital status, employment type, type of khat commonly chewed, and age categories) were included as controls.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Results<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>\n                      Regression analysis showed khat consumption was significantly associated with work performance (B = 0.774,\n                      <jats:italic>\u03b2<\/jats:italic>\n                      \u00a0=\u00a00.879,\n                      <jats:italic>t<\/jats:italic>\n                      \u00a0=\u00a015.062,\n                      <jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\n                      \u00a0&lt;\u00a00.001). Higher levels of khat use were associated with lower work performance, while other variables including education level (\n                      <jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\n                      \u00a0=\u00a00.281), marital status (\n                      <jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\n                      \u00a0=\u00a00.548), employment type (\n                      <jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\n                      \u00a0=\u00a00.902), type of khat (\n                      <jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\n                      \u00a0=\u00a00.700), and age (\n                      <jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\n                      \u00a0=\u00a00.429) showed no statistically significant effects.\n                    <\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Conclusion<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>The study suggests that khat consumption may negatively influence employee productivity, while demographic and occupational factors appear to have limited influence. These findings highlight the importance of workplace awareness and policy measures aimed at reducing the potential adverse impact of khat use on work performance.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.7717\/peerj.21430","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,25]],"date-time":"2026-06-25T08:26:10Z","timestamp":1782375970000},"page":"e21430","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["The effect of khat consumption on work performance in small businesses in the city-center market, Hargeisa, Somaliland"],"prefix":"10.7717","volume":"14","author":[{"given":"Abdulaziz Bashir","family":"Abdi","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Research and Data Analysis, Beder University, Hargeisa, Maroodi-Jeeh, Somalia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Abdiwahab","family":"Hashi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Institute of Health, Jigjiga University, Jigjiga, Somali Region, Ethiopia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Abdishakur Mohamed","family":"Hussein","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Dean of Economics and Business, Beder University, Hargeisa, Maroodi-Jeeh, Somalia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Abdalgani Aid","family":"Almi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Research and Innovation, Beder University, Hargeisa, Maroodi-Jeeh, Somalia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"4443","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,25]]},"reference":[{"key":"10.7717\/peerj.21430\/ref-1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"666885","DOI":"10.3389\/fphar.2021.666885","article-title":"Unraveling the Catha edulis extract effects on the cellular and molecular signaling in SKOV3 cells","volume":"12","author":"Abou-Elhamd","year":"2021","journal-title":"Frontiers in Pharmacology"},{"issue":"3","key":"10.7717\/peerj.21430\/ref-2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"63","DOI":"10.5897\/JDAE2018.1032","article-title":"Determinants of khat chewing among urban households of Wolkite Town, Gurage Zone, Ethiopia","volume":"11","author":"Addis","year":"2019","journal-title":"Journal of Development and Agricultural Economics"},{"issue":"6","key":"10.7717\/peerj.21430\/ref-3","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e0252900","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0252900","article-title":"Khat and neurobehavioral functions: a systematic review","volume":"16","author":"Ahmed","year":"2021","journal-title":"PLOS ONE"},{"key":"10.7717\/peerj.21430\/ref-4","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"6001885","DOI":"10.1155\/2021\/6001885","article-title":"Khat chewing and lipid profile in human and experimental animals","volume":"2021","author":"Al-Duais","year":"2021","journal-title":"BioMed Research International"},{"issue":"4","key":"10.7717\/peerj.21430\/ref-5","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"299","DOI":"10.1080\/13556210500353020","article-title":"Khat (Catha edulis)\u2014an updated review","volume":"10","author":"Al-Hebshi","year":"2005","journal-title":"Addiction Biology"},{"issue":"5","key":"10.7717\/peerj.21430\/ref-6","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"574","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1365-2125.2005.02358.x","article-title":"Khat chewing is a risk factor for acute myocardial infarction: a case-control study","volume":"59","author":"Al-Motarreb","year":"2005","journal-title":"British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology"},{"key":"10.7717\/peerj.21430\/ref-7","article-title":"Does Khat consumption affect work performance? 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A scoping review of the content and quality of the current evidence base","volume":"18","author":"Olani","year":"2023","journal-title":"Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention, and Policy"},{"issue":"1","key":"10.7717\/peerj.21430\/ref-33","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"137","DOI":"10.29121\/granthaalayah.v7.i1.2019.1042","article-title":"Socio-economic implication of khat consumption on the household economy","volume":"7","author":"Omar","year":"2019","journal-title":"International Journal of Research \u2013 Granthaalayah"},{"key":"10.7717\/peerj.21430\/ref-34","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"137","DOI":"10.1186\/s12888-019-2118-3","article-title":"Khat use and psychotic symptoms in a rural Khat growing population in Kenya: a household survey","volume":"19","author":"Ongeri","year":"2023","journal-title":"BMC 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